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Fernandez strikes out two over two innings in Grapefruit League opener

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Fernandez strikes out Wong 0:24

2/28/14: Jose Fernandez strikes out Kolten Wong for the second out in the first inning

By Jenifer Langosch
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MLB.com |

JUPITER, Fla. -- In his first appearance as the National League's reigning Rookie of the Year, Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in a 5-4 victory over the Cardinals on Friday in the Grapefruit League opener for both teams at Roger Dean Stadium.

Fernandez allowed singles to Yadier Molina and Shane Robinson in the second before stranding both runners in scoring position. The right-hander threw 32 pitches, 23 of which were strikes.

A go-ahead RBI double by designated hitter Ty Wigginton broke a seventh-inning tie. Facing Cardinals lefty Marco Gonzales, the Cardinals' top pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, Wigginton doubled home Rob Brantley with one out to make it 3-2. Wigginton, who signed a Minor League deal with Miami this offseason, is actually still collecting a paycheck from the Cardinals. St. Louis released him last summer after signing him to a two-year deal just months earlier.

The Marlins tacked on a second run in the seventh on a run-scoring triple by outfielder Jake Marisnick. In 1 2/3 innings, Gonzales walked three and allowed two hits.

Miami took a lead early when first baseman Garrett Jones made his organizational debut with a two-run homer off Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez. The two-out, first-inning blast followed a hit by right fielder Giancarlo Stanton.

Martinez rebounded after serving up the long ball and retired the final seven Marlins batters he faced in a three-inning start. He struck out two and threw 25 of his 36 pitches for strikes. It was a solid spring debut for the 22-year-old right-hander, who is competing for a spot in the Cardinals' rotation.

Right-hander Tom Koehler followed Fernandez and retired all three batters he faced. Mike Dunn and Chris Hatcher also made scoreless relief appearances for Miami.

The Cardinals tied the game in the fourth with four straight hits off right-hander Chaz Roe. Allen Craig started the rally with a ground-rule double; Matt Adams and Peter Bourjos contributed RBI singles. In between, Molina, playing as the designated hitter, tallied the second of his two hits.

Lefties Tyler Lyons, also a candidate for a rotation spot, followed Martinez on the mound and retired six of the seven batters he faced. Outfielder Brian Bogusevic reached base against him with a two-out single in the fifth.

Austin Nola, who had a three-run double on Thursday, added an RBI single in the ninth to make it 5-2. The Cardinals got within a run in the bottom half on a two-run homer by Patrick Wisdom.

Up next for the Marlins: The Marlins have a split-squad day. At Roger Dean Stadium, Miami faces the Cardinals once again, this time as the home team. Nathan Eovaldi, the projected No. 2 starter, gets the nod. The game also will be the first for Rafael Furcal, who was held out of action on Friday. Furcal is making his Miami debut at second base.